|Publication number||US7437914 B2|
|Application number||US 11/168,775|
|Publication date||Oct 21, 2008|
|Filing date||Jun 28, 2005|
|Priority date||Jun 28, 2005|
|Also published as||CN101248356A, EP1902322A1, US7540182, US20060288762, US20080047322, WO2007001912A1|
|Publication number||11168775, 168775, US 7437914 B2, US 7437914B2, US-B2-7437914, US7437914 B2, US7437914B2|
|Inventors||Philip Harding, Christopher C Beatty|
|Original Assignee||Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (17), Non-Patent Citations (1), Classifications (12), Legal Events (2)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
The present invention relates generally to systems for manipulating microfluids while minimizing the presence of gas bubbles therein.
The use of microfluidic systems for the acquisition of chemical and biological information is becoming increasingly popular due to a number of considerations. For example, complicated biochemical reactions, when conducted in microfluidic volumes, may be carried out using very small volumes of liquid. As the volume of a particular liquid needed for such testing regimes is small, often on the order of nanoliters, the amounts of reagents and analytes used can be greatly reduced. Reduction in the amounts of reagents and analytes can greatly reduce the costs associated with microfluidic testing compared to conventional testing systems.
In addition, the response time of reactions is often much faster in microfluidic systems, leading to a decrease in the overall time required for a particular test regime. Also, when volatile or hazardous materials are used or generated during testing, performing reactions in microfluidic volumes can increase the safety of a testing regime and can also reduce the quantities of hazardous materials that require specialized disposal after testing is completed.
While microfluidic testing is increasing in popularity, the technology associated with microfluidic testing remains problematic in a number of areas. In particular, it has been found that as liquids are centripetally manipulated through various microchannels and chambers formed on or in microfluidic test coupons, gas bubbles can be formed or entrained in the liquids and can interfere with the testing to be performed on the liquids. This interference can take a variety of forms. For example, when liquid is delivered to an optical test chamber to be optically analyzed, the presence of gas bubbles within the liquid can adversely affect the accuracy of the optical test. In addition, when it is desired to chemically react a liquid with a reactant applied to a surface of a testing chamber, the presence of gas bubbles can reduce the interaction between the liquid and the reactant.
Accordingly, while it is desired to use microfluidic test systems in a wide range of applications, the limitations presented by the presence of gas bubbles in microfluidic manipulation of fluids remain problematic.
It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a system for centripetally manipulating liquids on a microfluidic level while reducing or preventing the presence of gas bubbles in the liquids. The present invention provides a reservoir for use in testing a liquid as part of a microfluidic testing system, including a testing chamber that can be configured to receive the liquid to be tested. A liquid inlet can be fluidly coupled to the testing chamber to allow ingress of the liquid into the testing chamber. A gas outlet can be fluidly coupled to the testing chamber to allow egress of gas out of the testing chamber. The gas outlet can have an elevation that is higher than an elevation of the liquid inlet such that, as the testing chamber is rotated, the gas is expelled out of the testing chamber through the gas outlet, thereby reducing or preventing a presence of gas bubbles in the liquid.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method for reducing or preventing gas bubble presence in a microfluidic liquid to be tested is provided, including the steps of: centripetally manipulating the liquid through a liquid inlet at a first elevation into a testing chamber; and venting a gas through a gas outlet at a second elevation which is higher than the first elevation as the liquid enters the testing chamber.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention.
Before particular embodiments of the present invention are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular process and materials disclosed herein as such may vary to some degree. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting, as the scope of the present invention will be defined only by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
In describing and claiming the present invention, the following terminology will be used:
The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
As used herein, the terms “test coupon” or “coupon” are to be understood to refer to a device used to test one or more microfluids in a centrifugation test regime. Test coupons utilized in the present invention can include, but are not limited to, disk-shaped devices formed of poly(methyl methacrylate) (“PMMA”), polystyrene (“PS”), acetonitrile-butadiene-styrene (“ABS”), polycarbonate, etc. While not so limited, such disks can be similar in appearance to well-known compact disks (“CDs”).
As used herein, the term “passive valve” is to be understood to refer to a static valve with no moving parts that acts as a fluid valve due primarily to its geometric configuration.
As used herein, the term “capillary valve” is to be understood to refer to a passive valve presenting a junction between two or more capillary channels and/or reservoirs having at least one dimension less than about 1 mm.
As used herein, the term “microfluidics” and “microfluid” are to be understood to refer to fluids manipulated in systems that confine the fluids within geometric channels, passages or reservoirs having at least one dimension less than about 1 mm. Similarly, the terms “microfluidic channel,” or “microchannel” are to be understood to refer to channels having at least one dimension less than about 1 mm.
It is to be understood that the various features shown in the attached figures are for the purposes of illustration and do not in any manner limit the present invention. In particular, various fluids may be represented in the figures by hatch lines. The hatch lines used to indicate the presence of a fluid are not to be construed to limit the invention to any particular type of fluid or material, even in the case where the hatch lines used may correspond to hatch lines used by those in various fields of endeavor to indicate a specific fluid or material.
The various microchannels and reservoirs utilized in the present centrifugation coupons can be formed in the coupon in a variety of manners. In one embodiment, these features can be machined in a surface of a disk using conventional milling techniques. After milling, a covering, such as a thin polymer film, can be applied over each channel and/or reservoir to enclose the respective channel and/or reservoir. In addition to this method, it is contemplated that the geometric features of the test coupons can be formed in a variety of manners known to those having ordinary skill in the art, including, for example, injection molding techniques.
In addition, the relative levels of fluids in various reservoirs are shown schematically herein to aid in understanding of the invention, and may not provide an accurate indication of an actual amount of fluid or liquid contained within a reservoir or channel. Also, it is to be understood that liquids contained within channels, reservoirs or chambers can be forced toward one side or another of the channel, reservoir, or chamber, depending upon the net forces acting on the fluid body due to gravity, centripetal force, etc. Therefore, the fact that a body of fluid is shown in the figures as having an “upper” surface oriented in any particular direction may not correspond to the actual orientation of a fluid in a channel, reservoir, or chamber.
Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.
The present invention provides systems for manipulating liquids on a microfluidic level while minimizing or eliminating gas bubble presence in the liquids. The present invention can be used to improve manufacturing and testing processes, and other related processes, that are executed on a microfluidic level. Examples of testing processes that can benefit from the present invention include microfluidic biological, enzymatic, immunological and chemical assay regimes. It has been desirable to perform such testing on a microfluidic level for several reasons. Among other reasons, such systems generally utilize volumes of testing fluids well below those used in conventional systems, leading to advantages in decreased costs, more rapid reaction times and minimized production and/or use of biohazardous materials.
Before explaining in detail the features of the reservoirs or testing chambers and systems provided by the present invention,
The test coupon 10 can include a fluid receptacle 12 that can contain a liquid 14 and that can be fluidly coupled to a reservoir 16 that can include a liquid testing chamber (22 in
The various microchannels and reservoirs utilized in the present test coupons can be formed in the coupon in a variety of manners. In one embodiment, these features can be machined in an upper or lower surface of a disk using conventional milling techniques. After milling, a covering, such as a thin polymer film (not shown in the figures), can be applied over each channel and reservoir to enclose each channel or reservoir. In addition to this method, it is contemplated that the geometric features of the test coupons can be formed in a variety of manners known to those having ordinary skill in the art.
The passive valve or capillary valve 18 can be configured to allow flow of the liquid 14 from the fluid receptacle 12 when the coupon 10 rotates at or above a particular, target rotational velocity. Such passive valves have been found advantageous due to their relative simplistic operation and generally require no moving parts or control circuitry to open or close the valves.
The passive, capillary valves utilized in embodiments of the present invention are based on the use of rotationally-induced fluid pressure which, when exceeding a particular pressure, is sufficient to overcome capillary forces which tend to prevent liquids from flowing. Liquids which completely or partially wet internal surfaces of microchannels which contain them experience a resistance to flow when moving from a microchannel of narrow cross section to one of larger cross section. Conversely, liquids that do not wet these surfaces resist flowing from microchannels of large cross section to those with smaller cross section. The capillary pressure can vary according to the sizes of the two microchannels in question, the surface tension of the fluid, and the contact angle of the fluid on the material of the microchannels.
The size of microchannels utilized in the present invention is generally less than about 1 mm, and often as small as about 500 μm or less. By varying capillary valve cross sectional dimensions, as well as the position and extent along the radial direction of the fluid flow components of various test coupons, capillary valves are developed which release fluid flow in a rotation-dependent manner. Capillary valve systems similar to those utilized herein are discussed in detail in publications such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,143,248.
In one embodiment of the invention, the reservoir 16 can be used in testing the liquid 14 as part of a microfluidic testing system. Shown in more detail in
The gas outlet 26 can have an elevation (H1 in
For purposes of clarification of the invention, the elevation H2 of the liquid inlet 24 and the elevation H1 of the gas outlet 26 are shown referenced in
In addition to the gravitational force, or in some cases to the exclusion of the gravitational force, the present invention can utilize centripetal force to prevent or reduce the presence of gas bubbles 28 in the liquid 14. As shown in
While the gas outlet 26 is discussed herein as part of a path through which gas bubbles are allowed to vent from the testing chamber 22, it is to be understood that the gas outlet can also be utilized to drain liquid 14 from the testing chamber. For example, after testing has been performed on the liquid, it can be drained or vented through the gas outlet to a waste reservoir (not shown) or another location on the disk 10. Thus, the gas outlet is not limited to providing a path for the flow of only gas.
The liquid inlet 24 and the gas outlet 26 can be formed in or on the test coupon 10 in a variety of configurations. In the embodiment illustrated in
The testing chamber 22 can be configured such that a variety of tests can be performed upon the liquid 14 when contained within the chamber. For example, in one embodiment, the testing chamber can be at least partially transparent, to facilitate performance of an optical test on the liquid. In one aspect of the invention, at least a portion of an inside surface of the testing chamber can be treated with a reactant configured to chemically react with the liquid upon entry of the liquid into the testing chamber. While the shape and size of the testing chamber can also vary, in one embodiment of the invention the testing chamber is substantially cylindrical in shape. In a wide array of types of testing that can be performed on the liquid, the reduction or elimination of gas bubble presence in the liquid will enhance the testing process.
It is to be understood that the exemplary test coupon 10 shown in
In use, the present invention also provides a method for reducing or preventing gas bubble presence in the microfluidic liquid 14 which is to be tested. With reference to FIG, 1A, the method can include the step of centripetally manipulating the liquid through the liquid inlet 24 at the first elevation H2 into the testing chamber 16. The method can also include the step of venting the gas 28 through the gas outlet 26 at the second elevation H1, which can be higher than the first elevation, as the liquid enters the testing chamber. While the order in which the various steps taken to test the liquid can vary, in one aspect of the invention, the step of centripetally manipulating the liquid and the step of venting the gas can be performed substantially simultaneously.
The present invention also provides a method for forming the microfluidic testing chamber 22 that reduces or eliminates presence of gas bubbles 28 in the liquid 14 entering thereinto. The method can include the step of attaching the inlet microchannel 32 to the liquid inlet 24 of the testing chamber at a first elevation H2 to fluidly connect the testing chamber to a microfluidic system (not shown) and to allow introduction of the liquid into the testing chamber. The method can include the step of attaching a gas outlet 26 to the testing chamber at a second elevation H1 higher than the first elevation of the liquid inlet such that, as the liquid enters the testing chamber through the liquid inlet, gas is expelled out of the testing chamber through the gas outlet.
The testing chamber can have a depth “D” that is at least three times a depth “d” of the liquid inlet. As in other embodiments discussed herein, as the liquid 14 enters the testing chamber 22 b through the liquid inlet 24 b the gas is expelled out of the testing chamber through the gas outlet 26 b to thereby reduce or prevent the presence of gas bubbles in the liquid as it enters the testing chamber.
The depth “d” of the liquid inlet 24 b and the depth “D” of the testing chamber 22 b can vary, as can the ratio of one to another. In one embodiment, the depth of the liquid inlet can range from about 100 μm to about 1000 μm. The depth of the testing chamber can range from about 2 mm to about 10 mm. In one aspect of the invention, the depth of the liquid inlet is about 500 μm and the depth of the testing chamber is about 5 mm. In one embodiment, the depth of the testing chamber is at least four times a depth of the liquid inlet. Thus, in general, the testing chamber will have a depth substantially larger than a depth of the liquid inlet.
As shown in
The test coupon 10 discussed herein is provided as an example of a system within which the present invention can be incorporated and is generally designed to be rotated to manipulate the microfluids discussed herein. The mechanism used to rotate or spin test coupons utilized by the present invention is not shown in the figures: it being understood that those having ordinary skill in the art can devise numerous rotational devices capable of rotating the present test coupons at rotational velocities suitable for the present methods.
In addition, while it is anticipated that the present invention can be utilized in a variety of testing regimes, no specific testing regime is detailed herein, as it is believed that those of ordinary skill in the art can readily incorporate the present invention into a variety of testing regimes. In particular, it is contemplated that the present invention can be advantageously incorporated into testing regimes that utilize multiple fluid reservoirs, testing chambers, microchannels, reagents, etc., to perform multiple stages of tests and multiple flow sequencing events, as would occur to one having ordinary skill in the art. It is contemplated that the present invention can be particularly effective in reducing or preventing the presence of bubbles when two or more fluids are sequentially introduced into a single testing chamber.
It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements are illustrative of the application for the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention while the present invention has been shown in the drawings and described above in connection with the exemplary embodiments(s) of the invention. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.
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|U.S. Classification||73/64.53, 436/45, 422/50, 422/64, 422/72, 422/504|
|International Classification||G01N21/00, G01N35/00|
|Cooperative Classification||Y10T436/111666, G01N2021/054, G01N35/00069|
|Jun 28, 2005||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P., TEXAS
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HARDING, PHILIP;BEATTY, CHRISTOPHER C.;REEL/FRAME:016734/0755
Effective date: 20050624
|Apr 23, 2012||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4